Aviator&#39;s garment



1945- J. R. c. QUILTER ET AL 2,332,816

AVIATOR S GARMENT Filed Aug. 7, 1943 5 Sheeis-Sheet 1 JOHN RAYMOND CUTHBERT QUIL'EEB JAMES GREGORY Attorney Aug. 14, 1945. J. R. c. QUILTER ET AL 2,382,816

AVIATORS GARMENT Filed Aug. 7, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 m-qz.

,8 JOHN RAYMOND CU'IEBERT QUIL'I'ER mars GREGORY By e v Attorney Aug. 14, 1945. I J. R. c. QUILTER El'AL AVIATOR S GARMENT Filed Aug. 7, v1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 JOHN RAYMOND CUTHBERILQUILTER JAMES GHGORY Elm re/202's Attorney Aug. 14, 1945. J. R. c. QUILTER ETAL 2,382,816

AVIATORS GARMENT Filed Aug. '7, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I 30 JOHN RAYMOND CU'IHBERT QUIL'I'ER JAMES GREGORY Attorney 14, 1945. J. R. c. QUILTER ET AL 2,382,816

' AvIAToRs GARMENT I Fil ed Aug. 7, 1945 S Sheets-Sheet 5 JOHN RAYMOND CUTHBERT QUILTER JAMES GREGORY v Attbfney Patented Aug. 14, 1945 AVIATOB'S GARMENT John Raymond Cuthbert Quilter and James Gregory, Woklng, England Application Claims.

This invention relates to parachute harness of the kind combined with aviators garments, for example by locating a harness between a flying suit and its detachable lining, with the harness attached on the outside of the lining.

The invention has for its main object to provide an improved aviators garment combined with parachute harness, which can be easily and quickly put on or removed and which can be worn comfortably for long periods without imposing restraint due to tightness of the harness.

Another object of the invention is to provide a loose-fitting garment of this character combined with parachute harness which normally forms a, sliding upper vest but can be easily and .quickly adjusted to the necessary tightness for safety'when the wearer wishes to make a parachute Jump.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garment of this character combined with parachute harness located between an outer portion or jacket and an inner portion or lining of the garment, the adjustment to desired tightness of the harness being effected by means external to the jacket portion, and the tension being subsequently releasable by readily accessible means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved aviators garment adapted for use with a parachute pack of the detached type, theparachute harness being located between an outer jacket portion and an inner portion or lining of the garment, with lift-straps brought out through the Jacket portion and fitted with packconnectors anchored by frangible means on the exterior so as to facilitate the attachment of the parachute pack when the wearer wishes to make a jump.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear from the subsequent description of a preferred embodiment, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view and Fig. 2 a rear view of the composite garment.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the front open and the chest-straps unfastened.

Fig. 4 is a front View and Fig. 5 a rear view, corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2 respectively, but showing the lining of the garment and the harness attached thereto, the outer jacket portion of the garment being removed.

As seen in Figs 1, 2 and 3, the garment comprises an outer portion ill in the form of a sleeveless jacket, with arm-holes II and independent August 7, 1943, Serial No. 497,796 Great Britain Mai-c118, 194:

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body, and having a front opening I3 which extends from the neck I! down to a point near the crotch l5 between the leg-openings II; the garment also comprises a detachableinner portionor lining it, partly visible in Fig. 3 and seen more clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, of substantially the same form as the outer jacket portion but of smaller size, the composite garment fitting loosely on the wearer's body.

'The inner portion or lining I6 is connected to the outer garment or jacet III by a sliding clasp fastener I! (see Fig. 3) 01' detachable type, running along the adjacent edges Illa and l6a up one side of the front opening l3, around the back of the neck I4, and down the other side of the opening; the adjacent edges of the jacket and lining at the leg-openings l2 may be connected together in front by press-studs or like fasteners l8 at suitable intervals, and at the arm-holes H the edges may be connected together by similar lasteners or by buttons and button-holes Ila (see Figs. 4 and 5). l

The harness, located between the outer jacket portion Ill and the inner portion or lining i6, is attached to the outside of the lining; as seen in Figs. 4 and 5, it comprises lift-straps H! extending down over the chest and cross-connected by an intermediate portion I9a beneath the seat, a waist-belt 20 having its ends looped around the lift-straps i9, and chest-straps 2| having their ends passed through slits 22 near-the front edges I611 01 the lining, where they can be secured together by interlocking members 23, of the type requiring relative rotation before they can be separated. The chest-straps 2| include loops 24, through which the lift-straps I! are passed; they are crossed at the back, as seen in Fig. 5, and

leg-openings l2, all cut wide to fit loosely on the brought over the shoulders to carry shackles 25 through which the lift-straps are guided, these shackles being also engaged by loops 26 upon angular braces 21 anchored to the front ends of the chest-straps 2|. The several members 20, 2|

and 21 of the harness are attached to the lining I by stitching as indicated at Ma, 2la and 21a respectively, but the lift-straps l9 are slidable through their guiding loops 20b and 24 and shackles 25: their intermediate connecting portion |9a extending around beneath the seat is also slidable in relation to the lining It, being loosely guided by enclosure in open-ended hems or patches 28 stitched to the lining at he. as seen in Fig. 5. I

Two leg-straps 2!, stitched at 28a to the intermediate portion lta of P the lift-straps, pass beneath the crotch by way of a guide piece lid to the front of the'lining, where they are-secured to buckles I. of the non-slip friction type,

including for example knurled bars a slidable in rectangular buckle-frames: these buckles are I engaged by adjustable straps II, each having one end attached to the lift-strap II on the adjacent side by stitching at Ila. The other end 0 that the top half forms a sliding upper of cross bracing and chest-straps all in one. givassasic I I 1 resemble the garment described and illustrated in our prior patent specification No.

2,258,597, the being located upon the lining so waistcoat ing maximum comfort until the moment of action. I

The outer jacket portion will also be provided I with the customary pockets 0, as well as as fitthus the leg-loops formed by the intermediate portion "a of the lift-straps, together with the straps "and II, which are normally left slack tings l4 and 45 .for an inflatable life-belt, an for other necessarypurposes.

What we claim is:

1. An aviator's garment combined with parachute harness, comprising a loose-fitting jacket to allow freedom, can be readily adjusted to'thef necessary tightness to ensure that the takes the weight comfortably for the wearer when the parachute comes into action. Such ad-- justment may be effectedquickly, that is to say,

within one or two seconds, by pulling or jerking the two projecting ends of the straps 3| in posite directions laterally of the aviators body,

one grip or handle 33 being taken in each hand so that they can be operated simultaneously in a minimum time.

After the straps II have been pulled or jerked to tighten the leg-loops, the grips It can be released, the slidable friction vbars "a then look-- ing the straps II in the adjusted position: but if having, two wide and independent legopenings andadapted to open down the front to a point near the crotch, a detachable lining for said jacket, and harnesslocated between said jacket and lining,lsaid harness being normally slidable in relation to the aviators body and including lift-straps extending out through said jacket,

the wearer does not have to jump, the strapsll can be subsequently released by undoing a few of the press-studs or like fasteners I! at the front of the leg-openings l2, and manipulating the buckles II to free the straps ll, whereupon the waistbelt and chest-straps will be loosened automatically.

The front opening it of the garment is nor mally closed by a slidin clasp fastener 84, as seen in .Fig. 1; this fastener can be pulled down so as to free the edges "a of the opening from r the top almost down to the crotch II, asseen in Fig. 3. As soon as the front of'the garment is opened in this way, the interlocking members I! become accessible for separation, so that the wearer can put on or remove the complete garment; the leg-openings II will be sufficiently roomy for passage of the feet, provided that the adjusting straps ll of the leg-loops are in'loose condition. The sliding clasp fastener 34 is preferably arranged to pass beyond the line of tension i between the edges Ila at the top of the front I 7 opening in the closed position by providing tabextensions 88 at the top of the stringers.

The composite jacket or garment is most conveniently employed with a parachute packof the' detached type, the lift-straps I! of the barness being brought out through the jacket by way of slits 36 near the shoulders (see Fig. l)

and having their pack-connector hooks or the.

like 31 anchored by frangible means at convenient points on the exterior, for example at ll (see Fig. 1) these points being level with and on either side of the chest-strap interlocking mem-' bers 23. -The connector hooks 31 and the extel-m1 lengths of the lift-straps It will be preferably covered by naps ll and ll respectively with press-stud fasteners ll; the flaps I! over the. connector hooks can be quickly released by pulling away their tabs 42 when the parachute pack is to be connected, and the fasteners of the other flaps ll will readily yield to the pull of the liftstraps I! when the ation.

In other respects, the composite jacket may parachute comes into operchest-straps slldably connected to said liftstraps, separable means for connecting adjacent ends *ofsaid chest-straps near the front opening of said jacket, 8. waist-belt having its forward ends slidably connected to said lift-straps, and quickly adjustable leg-loops around said legopenings, said leg-loops being connected to said of said leg-loops.

'2. An aviators garment combined with parachute harness, comprising a loose-fitting sleeveless'jacket having two wide and independent leg-openings and adapted to open down the front to a Point near the crotch, and harness located inside said jacket, said harness including lift-straps-connected together beneath the seat and extending unwardly'at the sides and over the chest to pass slidably out through said jacket and adjustable leg-loops around said legopenings said leg-loops being formed bytheintermediate seat-portion of said lift-straps, leg- Straps-secured to said intermediate seat-portion, adjust straps-secured to the upwardly extendportionsifof said lift-straps, and quickaction? buckles engaging said leg-straps with said adjusting-jstraps,1said adjusting straps passing iromysaid'bucklestojthe exterior of said jacket for manual'operation to tighten said leg-loops. .;;.3; .An aviators "garment combined with par- 1 achute harness, comprising a jacket fitting loosely'on the wearer's body and hanging from the shoulders, said jacket having wide arm-holes and leg-openings and being adapted to open downthe front to a point near the crotch, and

harness located inside said jacket, said harness including lift-straps extending out through said jacket, at least one strap extending partly around the aviators body, and quickly adjustable legloops-extending around said leg openings said leg-loops being connected to said lift-straps and having ends extending out through said jacket to within reach of the aviator's hands for effecting the quick adjustment of said leg-loops, said leg-loops being normally left slack'to allow freedom of said leg-openings but being manually adjustable from the exterior of said jacket so as to tighten around the wearer's legs, and the tensioning of said lift-straps by operation of the parachute after adjustment of said leg-loops causing the tensioning of said strap extending partly around the aviator's body.

4. An aviators garment combined with parachute harness, comprising a loose-fitting jacket having two wideand independent leg-openings and adapted to open down the front to a point near the crotch, a detachable lining for said jacket, harness located between said jacket and lining, said harness being normally slidable in relation to the aviators body and including quickly adjustable leg-loops extending around said, leg-openings and lift-straps extending out through said jacket, and means for tightening said leg-loops before bringing the parachute into operation, said tightening means including handles adapted for movement in opposite directions laterally from the aviators body.

5. An aviators garment'combined with parachute harness, comprising a loose-fitting jacket having two wide and independent leg-openings and adapted to open down the front to a point near the crotch, and harness located inside said jacket, said harness forming a slidable vest with attached leg-loops normally extending loosely around said leg-openings, each of said leg-loops including strap-portions connected by a frictiongrip adjuster device and having a strap-end projecting through said jacket for manual adjustment of the respective leg-loop to desired tightness for taking part of the weight of the aviator jecting through said jacket, the two projecting strap-ends being operable simultaneously by pulling in opposite directions laterally from the aviators body for quick tensioning of said leg-- loops to desired tightness for. taking part of the weight 01' the aviator when the parachute sub sequently comes into operation.

7. An aviators garment combined with parachute harness, comprising a loose-fitting jacket. harness located inside said jacket, said harness forming a slidable vest ,with attached leg loops normally slack but adapted when tightened to take the major part 0! the aviators weight during descent by parachute, and means for quickly adjusting said leg-loops to desired tightness independently of the remainder of said harness, said quick adjusting means including friction-grip adjusters interposed in said leg-loops and adjusting straps extending from said adjusters to the exterior of said jacket for manual tensioning 01' said leg-loops by the aviator.

8. An aviators garment combined with parachute harness, comprising a loose-fitting jacket,

.ably out through said jacket, and said leg-loops including leg-straps connected to the intermediate seat-portion of said lift-straps, ,iriction-grip adjusters connected to said leg-straps, and adjusting straps connected at one of their ends to the upwardly extending side portions of said lii'tstraps, said adjusting straps being engaged by said adjusters and having their free ends projecting to the exterior of said jacket for manual tensioning of said leg loops by the aviator.

9. An aviators garment combined withparachute harness, comprising a loose-fitting jacket having two wide and independent leg-openings, a detachable lining for said jacket, and harness located between said jacket and lining, said harness including lift-straps connected together beneath the seat and leg-loops around said legopenings, said lift-straps extending upwardlyatthe sides to pass slidably out through said jacket, and said leg-loops including leg-straps connected to the intermediate seat-portion of said lift-straps and slidable in relation to said lining, frictiongrip adjusters connected to said leg-straps, and adjusting straps connected at one of their ends to the upwardly extending side portions of said lift-straps, said adjusting straps being engaged by said adjusters and having their free ends projecting to the exterior of said jacket for manual tensioning of said leg-loops by the aviator.

10. An aviators garment combined with parachute harness, comprising a loose-fitting jacket having two wide and independent leg-openings, a detachable lining for said jacket, and harness located between said jacket and lining, said harness including lift-straps connected together beneath the seat and leg-loops around said legopenings, means for guiding the intermediate seat-portion of said lift-straps in slidable relation to said lining, said lift-straps extending upwardly at the sides to pass slidably out through said jacket, and said leg-loops including legstraps connected to the intermediate seat-portion of said lift-straps and slidable in relation to said lining, friction grip adjusters connected to said leg-straps, and adjusting straps connected at one of their ends to the upwardly extending side portions of said lift-straps, said adjusting straps being engaged by said adjusters and having their free ends projecting to the exterior of said jacket for manual tensioning of said legloops by the aviator, and said adjusters being accessible from the exterior of said jacket for releasing the tension of said adjusting straps.

JOHN RAYMOND CUTHBER'I' QUE-TEE. JAMES GREGORY. 

